Clash by Night (1952)
Robert Ryan: Earl Pfeiffer
Photos
Quotes
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Earl Pfeiffer : Jerry's the salt of the earth, but he's not the right seasoning for you.
Mae Doyle : What kind of seasoning do I need?
Earl Pfeiffer : You're like me. A dash of Tabasco or the meat tastes flat.
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Earl Pfeiffer : [Peg has just announced her engagement to Joe] Congratulations. I'm glad you put the guy out of his misery.
Peggy : Since when did you start recommending marriage?
Earl Pfeiffer : [sardonically] Since I got my divorce.
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Earl Pfeiffer : Love is rotten when it happens like this - the hard way. But we want each other, this is the fire we have to walk through, because this is forever, Mae.
Mae D'Amato : Forever?
Earl Pfeiffer : Or until he sticks a knife in me, or you walk out.
Mae D'Amato : How could I walk out?
Earl Pfeiffer : And do the next thing, get away from here. If you have a dream, live it. If you have a hope, chase it.
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Mae Doyle : You don't like women, do you?
Earl Pfeiffer : Take any six of 'em - my wife included. Throw 'em up in the air. The one who sticks to the ceiling, I like.
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Mae Doyle : Aren't there any more comfortable men in this world? Now they're all little and nervous like sparrows or big and worried like sick bears. Men!
Earl Pfeiffer : Women!
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Earl Pfeiffer : Mae - what do you *really* think of me?
Mae Doyle : [coolly] You impress me as a man who needs a new suit of clothes or a new love affair - but he doesn't know which.
Earl Pfeiffer : [stung] You can't make me any smaller. I happen to be pre-shrunk.
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[after watching the movie, Mae and Jerry are visiting Earl in the projection booth]
Earl Pfeiffer : Like the show?
Mae Doyle : She's beautiful.
Earl Pfeiffer : Who? That celluloid angel you just saw? They oughta cut her up a little bit - she'd look more interesting.
Jerry D'Amato : Cut her up?
Earl Pfeiffer : Didn't you ever wanna cut up a beautiful dame?
Jerry D'Amato : No.
Earl Pfeiffer : Jeremiah, you're a simple man.
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Earl Pfeiffer : I need a drink. What do you need, Miss Doyle?
Mae Doyle : Well, let's say a drink.
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Mae Doyle : Is your wife very pretty?
Earl Pfeiffer : Who says I have a wife? And who says she's pretty?
Mae Doyle : Oh, I imagine you're the kind of a man who likes the woman he marries to be pretty.
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Earl Pfeiffer : Were you ever a showgirl?
Mae Doyle : God, no.
Earl Pfeiffer : You look like you could be. My wife's in show business, burlesque. She eats money. Yesterday from St. Louis, a fast telegram: "Send some spot cash."
Mae Doyle : But you must love her to stay married.
Earl Pfeiffer : I'm a glutton for punishment.
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Mae Doyle : He drives me cuckoo sometimes. What does he think I am, Red Riding Hood?
Earl Pfeiffer : Get mad, get hot. It's good for what ails you.
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Mae Doyle : If I ever loved a man again, I'd bear anything. He could have my teeth for watch fobs.
Earl Pfeiffer : That's the liquor talking.
Mae Doyle : Two tiny slugs.
Earl Pfeiffer : Who was he?
Mae Doyle : Santa Claus.
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Earl Pfeiffer : Don't kid me, baby. I know a bottle by the label.
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Earl Pfeiffer : The day's young. Let's enjoy ourselves. A few drinks, a dance, a hug. What's wrong with that? Or am I in the wrong pew? Waiter, bring three more stinkies.
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Mae D'Amato : Aren't you going to kiss me before you go?
Earl Pfeiffer : You don't like me to kiss you in the morning.
Mae D'Amato : I'd like it this morning.
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Earl Pfeiffer : How did I get here?
Mae D'Amato : You passed out. Jerry put you to bed. Why didn't you let me sleep it off in the gutter?
Earl Pfeiffer : Yeah, that's right, why didn't I?
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Mae D'Amato : You wanna put your teeth into me to hurt me?
Earl Pfeiffer : Get me right.
Mae D'Amato : Don't touch me!
Earl Pfeiffer : I'll do anything you want.
Mae D'Amato : Go to Madagascar... go any place, but get out of here.
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Earl Pfeiffer : You never know what kind of a dame a guy'll wind up with.
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Mae Doyle : You're crude, Earl.
Earl Pfeiffer : I never claimed to polish.
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Earl Pfeiffer : You're tough to please.
Mae Doyle : I pick and I choose. My privilege.
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Mae Doyle : Big mouth, fast dollar. What are you trying to buy, the world's approval?
Earl Pfeiffer : On your way, dust.
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Earl Pfeiffer : Are you happy?
Mae D'Amato : I'm happy.
Earl Pfeiffer : No, you're not. You're just like me. You're born and you'd like to get unborn. That's why I drink that shellac, to get unborn.
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Peggy : Is anybody home?
Earl Pfeiffer : The mice. Got any cheese?
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Earl Pfeiffer : What is it, do you feel guilty? That's the way they want you to feel.
Mae D'Amato : They?
Earl Pfeiffer : The world. All the people who haven't got guts enough to do what they wanna do.
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Earl Pfeiffer : A chump, that's what you played me for. Wasn't it? Wasn't it?